John stephenson



(No Model.)

J. STEPHENSON.

TEAM GAR DASH GAP.

Patented Feb. 28, 1888.

PATENT O FICE.

JOHN STEPHENSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRAM- -CAR DASH-GAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,476, dated February 28, 1888.

Application filed July 21, 1887. Serial No. 244,916. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN STEPHENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tram-Gar Dash-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of a dashboard provided with the improved dash-cap. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of one end of the dashrail, the dash-cap being in section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is aview of the under side of a portion of the dash-cap.

The dash -rails of tram cars until recent years have been of iron without covering, except paint,which soon perished, and the naked iron rusted and soiled clothing of passengers, to prevent which some rails were galvanized; but this did not find favor because of rough and unfinished appearance.

For several years the dash-rails were capped with hard wood,which proved acceptable for a time; but liability to fracture by contact and marred by gnawing of horses, together with the higher style of finish of tram-cars lately come into vogue called for more durable and elegant dash-rail caps. These requirements are provided by my invention, as follows:

I make the dash-rail of iron, as usual,

. except omitting the handles A. Each end of the dash-rail enters a socket or mortise, 21, in the handle, made of another metal, preferably of bronze, and for greater security the dash-pillar 22 passes up through the socket, including the dash-rail end. This combination secures the necessary strength and safety. On top of the dash-rail 20 and between the two handles A, I put a smoothly-molded caprail, B, of semi-elliptical forms, overspreading the dash'rail, which is partly embedded in the cap, as in Fig. 3. The ends of the cap extend over and cover the dash-pillar nuts 19, which are covered by the cap terminating beyond the nuts and finishing in harmony with the handles, making them apparently a continuation of the cap.

To secure the cap B on its dash-rail 20 and preserve a perfectly smooth surface, I make within the shell of the cap cross-bars 22, re

ceiving the hook-heads 23 of bolts 24, which pass down through the dash-rail, and are tightened by screwnuts 25 beneath. The bars also form chairs, into which the dash-rail is fitted and prevented from displacement. The caps may be secured from beneath the dash-rail by screws passing upward and tapped into the cross-bars; but I prefer the hook-bolts.

1. A tram-car having its dash-rail covered with a different metal, preferably the same as the dash-handles, with which the cap joins at each end, overlapping on their top side and grasping the two vertical sides, as and for the purpose described.

2. A tramcar with its platform dash-rail covered with a shell of bronze or other metal secured in position by screws from beneath and through the iron dash rail and into the metal cap, as and for the purpose described.

3. A tram-car With its platform dash-rail covered with a shell of bronze or other metal, the shell having cross-bars uniting the two sides of the shell, and the bars fitted to the dash-rail and secured by bolts hooking over or into the bars and passing down through the dash-rail and fastened with screw-nuts beneath, as and for the purpose described.

4. A tram car with usual iron dash rail capped with bronze or other metal having unbroken or unperforated surface, and its ends, in conjunction with handles of similar metal, united to dash-rail by tenon-and-socket joint, fastened together by the head of the dash-pillar passing through tenon and socket and secured by a nut above the dash-rail covered by the dashrail cap, as and for the purpose described.

5. A tram-car dash-rail capped with bronze or other metal corresponding with the dashhandles, the ends of the cap fitted to the top and sides of the handlesocket, preventing displacement and so harmonizing in finish with the handles as to give the dash-cap and dashhandles appearance of oneness, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN STEPHENSON.

Witnesses:

S. A. STEPHENSON, JOHN A. TAGKABERRY. 

